The old man’s friend: Refuse antibiotics to achieve a peaceful death

Conditions
August 20, 2023

“If you don’t know how to die, don’t worry; Nature will tell you what to do on the spot, fully and adequately. She will do this job perfectly for you.”
– M. Montaigne (1533-1592)

In 2021, former U.S. President Bill Clinton was rushed to a California hospital suffering from a urinary tract infection that had developed into sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection. According to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, …

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From stress to wellness: Navigating burnout in health care [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 19, 2023
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Join Sarah Samaan, a retired cardiologist and physician development coach. Discover how burnout is a response to workplace stress, not a personal flaw, and how it relates to grief and compassion. Gain valuable insights into distinguishing burnout …

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As suicide and gun violence rise, we need gun purchase waiting periods now

Policy
August 19, 2023

In 2018, physicians began #ThisIsOurLane, a movement arguing that gun violence is a public health epidemic that medical professionals have a vital role in dismantling. Gun suicide rates are increasing across America – particularly in states with the fewest gun laws. Guns are the most lethal method of self-harm, with a fatality rate of 90%, yet only 11 states are enforcing …

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Mitigating physician burnout: Rediscovering your dignity

Physician
August 19, 2023

Treating patients with dignity is a fundamental cornerstone of our profession. Although we can all cite situations where we or our colleagues fell short, most of us aspire to helping our patients feel safe and respected. Yet the flip side of this equation is rarely mentioned. And the truth is that physicians are often not treated with the same dignity by their systems or their patients.

In this article, I’ll go …

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The government should establish a Youth Behavioral Health Advisory Council

Policy
August 19, 2023

Even as the declared public health emergency for COVID-19 ended on May 11, two other public health emergencies continued. The first such emergency, the opioid crisis, was initially declared in October 2017, more than two years before COVID-19. A second emergency was declared for youth mental health in October 2021 by three major national associations, including the American …

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Michael J. Fox asks: “Am I still me?” in a new documentary – a question many with critical illness face

Conditions
August 19, 2023

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie was recently released by Apple TV+ and provides a ringside seat to the daily, formidable challenges facing the actor since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 30 years ago.

There is, of course, tremendous irony in this movie’s title, given Parkinson’s disease, a non-curable neurodegenerative disease that affects well over six million people around the world, denies those afflicted the ability to keep …

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A pediatrician embraces direct primary care [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 18, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Andrea Wadley, a pediatrician who navigated career burnout to embrace the direct primary care (DPC) model. Discover how DPC transformed her practice, offering personalized care, shorter wait times, and improved doctor-patient relationships. Andrea’s journey sheds light …

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Patient complaints prompt hospital to reevaluate doctor’s bedside manner

Physician
August 18, 2023

Tom, a doctor friend, recently told me he was reprimanded by Michael, his hospital’s medical chief of staff, after two patients lodged complaints against him.

One instance involved a man whom Tom informed of a cancer recurrence. When the man cried, Tom put his hand on the man’s knee, attempting to comfort him. However, the man didn’t find it comforting. He said nothing to Tom but complained to administration, stating that …

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Avoid being an uninformed financial patient

Finance
August 18, 2023

As doctors, we all know that when we care for an informed patient, the conversation is more meaningful, and the patient can make a more informed decision about their care.

The same is true in the investing world. We are all very busy, but it is important we understand some basic financial terms so when we are either picking our own stocks or mutual funds or talking with a financial advisor, …

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TikTok aging filters may help those considering cosmetic surgery

Conditions
August 18, 2023

There’s a new viral trend on TikTok, and it’s motivating a lot of people to consider plastic surgery. It’s the platform’s latest facial filter, meant to show one’s older self, and many people are taking it as accurate and predictive. However, while it can be accurate in several ways, it does have its faults. TikTok has many of these filters that use programming and AI to change how a …

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Addressing clinician burnout: an occupational health perspective [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 17, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Mara Buchbinder, a medical anthropologist, and explore the pressing issue of clinician burnout within the health care system. Delve into the shortcomings of conventional mental health approaches and the potential of an occupational health lens to …

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Star Trek’s profound narrative on trauma and healing

Conditions
August 17, 2023

In the vast and intricate universe of Star Trek, we often find narratives that reflect our own realities, despite their setting in the distant reaches of space. One such narrative is found in the eighth episode of the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, “Under the Cloak of War.” This episode offers a profound exploration of the psychological aftermath of war, serving as a mirror to our struggles …

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The myth of compassion fatigue

Physician
August 17, 2023

Here is a challenge: Review the schedule of patients you have seen today. As you recall each patient, ask yourself this question: Did I genuinely feel compassion towards my patient in that encounter?

I will be brutally honest with you (and myself). For me, on many days, that figure is maybe, at best, about 5 percent.

It’s tough. We are running 30 minutes late. Three irritated waiting room patients yearn for our …

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Celebrating a family tradition: a recent medical school graduation

Education
August 17, 2023

Last week, my niece, Maria Piedad Villadiego Carrascal, the only child of my sister, Maria A., graduated from medical school. In doing so, she became the seventh member of the Carrascal family to embrace medicine as a profession. It was an emotional moment. I could not hold back tears as I watched the event, which was streamed live.

By chance, the week before graduation, she and her cousin, my nephew Mauricio, …

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A letter that shook this urologist [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 16, 2023
YouTube video

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We delve into urologist William Lynes’ emotional journey as a physician grappling with burnout and the weight of medical decisions. A distressing note triggers introspection, unraveling the hidden turmoil of a healer. Join us to explore the …

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A memorable day during COVID: Staying true to my calling

Physician
August 16, 2023

COVID reminded me of why I became a doctor. Below is an unpublished account (in short story form) of my most memorable day during the height of COVID. It is a reminder that we can remain true to our intrinsic motivators rather than victims of extrinsic factors. And most of us still have the opportunity to choose every day which forces rule our day: intrinsic or extrinsic.

On a Tuesday morning …

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The preference for insurance coverage of opioids over non-pharmaceutical options explained

Meds
August 16, 2023

Pain is the primary reason people seek medical care. Pain is also the problem that ignited the opioid crisis and continues to supply fuel. Eighty percent of opioid misuse begins with a pill prescribed for pain. Purdue invested heavily in marketing Oxycontin to physicians, training them that home opioids are the standard of care for recovery from surgery. While addiction debunked the myth of universal safety, two fallacies embedded in …

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